What is behind the development of some FargoThe very original characters go far beyond the script. The three-time Emmy nominee Chris Glimsdalecontributes to the hairstyles of each character. The head of hair has worked on the show since the first season and adds her personal touch to some of the best characters on television – hair by hair.
Glimsdale spoke to Awards Radar about her work on Fargo and what their goals were for some of the characters.
You worked on four seasons. How did you get involved with “Fargo”?
I started with the first season and didn’t really know what it was about, except Fargo I was fascinated by the film and super excited to work with Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman. The scripts were fantastic and creative. Billy Bob’s bad haircut with dark hair and then the complete change in his look to a put together, completely grey hair for years later, along with all these fantastic characters, from Fargo, the comebacks, to a woman stuck in the 80s. So much detail that went into each person to create the image of their characters, having to realize the look, soften the texture, and Noah Hawley’s creative mind, what a fantastic place to step in… always thinking outside the box.
This season we have to start with Juno. What did you want to express with Dot’s hairstyle?
How did you do that?
Dot is a woman who tries not to stand out and not to fit in, so she looked like a woman who didn’t do much, a woman with no real style but who dressed up to fit in with society. We left her hair bare, with hairs sticking out and natural movement, we chose a medium brown light brown without much bounce so that she didn’t fit in with society without doing much with her hairstyle but keeping it very simple.
It gave us the impression of a busy mother who has no time for herself but only for her family, but is still always aware of her surroundings.
Is there a difference between the woman and the tiger?
The tiger is in her soul. We still needed her to stay under wraps in society. But there was a slight tightening and togetherness and strength
Then you have Jennifer Jason Leigh, whose Lorraine seems more used to a board meeting in New York.
How did you approach them?
We have worked to ensure that she is a very well groomed woman who comes to the salon regularly for blow-drying. Judy Durbacz, a team member, has done a great job with this.
And as for Ole Munch, there must be a great story behind your work with him.
What were your goals and inspiration? What do you think the end results say about the character?
Ole, that’s a great example of Noah’s mindset. That’s a character who’s 300 years old but has no sense of society, just believes in his beliefs. Went through a lot of years. He cuts his own hair so it doesn’t get in the way. That created this weird shape that doesn’t take care of itself at all. We tried a few styles, but that weird look was really a throwback to the old style and interesting people in the world living today and in the past, and that’s what made Ole… along with all the text about makeup and the amazing wardrobe. Sam Spruell himself brought out all the Ole mannerisms.
Were there any other characters whose hair design stories stood out this season?
Everyone gets a lot of details from Deputy Witt Farr, a man who went to the barber shop because he was a professional alcoholic and had no time for himself. So no compromises or clear lines.
From Indira, the crumbling policewoman who is tired and chaotic, to the composed, put-together woman with the sophisticated, clean look when life changes for her, who works for Lorraine
Every single character has a little something that makes them seem alive and real.
What challenges did you face this season that may not be so obvious to the viewer?
I think it’s the hours you put into making it happen, the attention to detail. By observing real people and their looks, I always look at people and take photos of them.
Which character did you enjoy designing the hairstyle for the most in these seasons?
I would say all of them, because we all work very hard to keep the characters alive and build them up with great attention to detail, namely the ones who change the most every day from then on and who like to step out of their comfort zone.
